Published Article

HeadlineAbortion clinic has ‘buffer zone’ granted by Richmond Council

Short HeadlineRichmond abortion clinic granted buffer zone

StandfirstVigils and protests organised by anti-abortion groups have been a daily recurrence since 2013.

Richmond Council has granted an abortion clinic a “buffer zone,” bringing an end to what abortion rights groups describe as “years of harassment.”

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) abortion clinic will now have a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) surrounding it.

Vigils and protests organised by anti-abortion groups, including the Good Counsel Network, have been a daily recurrence since 2013, according to data compiled by BPAS.

Campaigners say the protests amount to harassment and intimidation, although anti-abortion groups deny this.

Abortion rights groups say that protesters are “infringing on other peoples human rights by standing outside the clinic every day”, in which women are waylaid as they enter clinics.

Activists, such as Caroline Rayfield from the Reclaim Rosslyn Road campaign, and councillors say a safe zone is necessary after women entering the clinic were called “murderers” and shown photographs of foetuses. 

The plan was unanimously approved by the Richmond Council on Wednesday evening.

Rachael Clarke, public affairs and advocacy manager at BPAS, described to City News the spread of tactics was “deeply worrying”. “In recent years protests have become more regular, wider spread and more intimidating,” she said.

Clarke said while she welcomed moves to address the growing problem, more needed to be done on a national level, noting to City News that ”we should all be very clear that freedom of speech is a qualified one”.

“But it’s important to know that regardless of what protesters do, their very presence is intimidating to women.”

The activists themselves deny any aggressive or upsetting behaviour, saying they are there simply to give advice to women who might be feeling pressured into seeking an abortion.